From the course: Using Generative AI Ethically at Work
An ethical driver's license for AI
- When Carl Benz invented the world's first car, the motor wagon in 1885, you can imagine how exciting it must have been for him and his pals driving up and down the streets of Manheim, Germany. People must have marveled at seeing a horseless carriage, but they may not have been too worried because the motor wagon's top speed was a mere 16 kilometers per hour. Yet, as the technology improved, as the speeds increased, and as more people gained access to cars, everyone started to get more concerned. By 1893, France introduced the Paris Police Ordinance, which gave rise to the world's first driver's license. Other countries followed suit spawning additional regulations like speed limits, traffic lights, and other safety laws. Now, if you want to drive a car, you must pass a test and get a driver's license in order to prove you are responsible and capable of safely driving a car. When it comes to AI, especially generative AI, we're quickly seeing the scope, scale, and speed of the technologies lead to greater societal concerns about the risks and harms of using AI, especially if it's used without any oversight. The European Union has introduced the first comprehensive regulation to address AI risks, the EU AI Act, which is expected to come into full force by 2026. But while we wait for other countries to implement official regulations, we might need an ethical driver's license for generative AI. Ethics is useful to help us with should questions, and it's especially useful when there are no clear cut regulations or rules to follow. We can apply ethics to help us navigate those uncertain situations. Think of this course as offering some rules of the road to operate AI in ways that mitigate risks and promote responsible practices. You'll get the basics of what you need to consider to responsibly use generative AI systems at work so that you can more confidently stay on the roads and off the sidewalks. Let's get started.